Rooney effect: Germany are second favourites behind champions Brazil to win the World Cup, according to German bookmakers, after England striker Wayne Rooney suffered an injury which is likely to keep him out of the tournament. BetandWin, Germany's largest private bookmaker, have Brazil as 4-1 favourites while the odds of hosts Germany were cut to 8-1 from 9-1. England are now quoted at 8.5-1, after 7.5-1 before Rooney was injured at the weekend for Manchester United. Italy are 9-1 and Argentina 10-1.
Brazilian ref: Brazilian referee Wilson Souza de Mendonca has been suspended for three weeks after refusing to let a player wear a protective mask during a game on Sunday. Fluminense midfielder Romeu, who was playing with a broken nose, was ordered by Mendonca to remove the mask before the start of the derby against Vasco da Gama. Despite the ban, Mendonca is due to take charge of today's all-Brazilian Libertadores Cup tie between Palmeiras and Sao Paulo.
King: Tottenham central defender Ledley King has signed a new improved four-year contract. The 25-year-old England international, the longest-serving member of the current Spurs squad and also the club captain, has made more than 200 appearances since his debut in 1999. King is recovering from a broken metatarsal in his left foot.
Lacatus: Steaua Bucharest executive president Marius Lacatus resigned yesterday, five days after the club's shock UEFA Cup semi-final defeat. Club spokesman Sorin Cojocaru said Lacatus had received an offer to coach Panama's national team. Steaua Bucharest were beaten in the UEFA Cup semi-finals by Middlesbrough last week and lost top spot in the first division after losing 2-0 at home at the weekend against Rapid Bucharest. As a player, Lacatus was a symbol of the "Great Steaua" who became European champions in 1986 after beating Barcelona on penalties.
Yanagisawa: Though not as celebrated a metatarsal victim as Wayne Rooney, Japan striker Atsushi Yanagisawa is more likely to play at the World Cup. Japan coach Zico left Yanagisawa out of the squad for this month's Kirin Cup matches against Bulgaria and Scotland. However, the Brazilian said Yanagisawa should be fit for the World Cup where Japan meet Brazil, Croatia and Australia in Group F. Yanagisawa, now back with Kashima Antlers after spells in Italy at Sampdoria and Messina, suffered the break to his right foot in a J-League match on March 25.
Bundesliga: Cologne vs Hamburg 0-1; Nuremberg vs B. M'gladbach 5-2; Hanover vs B. Dortmund 1-2; H. Berlin vs B. Leverkusen 1-5. Playing today: B. Munich vs Stuttgart; E. Frankfurt vs Kaiserslautern; Duisburg vs W. Bremen; Schalke 04 vs A. Bielefeld; Wolfsburg vs Mainz.